5 Signs Your Child is Being Bullied Online

How to tell whether your child has become a victim of cyberbullying.

With the internet being so accessible, the number of cyberbullying cases has gone through the roof. Online bullying has destroyed countless families and is a real issue, an issue we should be discussing with our children in order to create more awareness and eventually put a stop to it.

Did you know…

65% of 8-14-year-olds have been involved in a cyber-bullying incident.
24% of children report that they do not know what to do if they’re harassed online.
72% of children report that they’re bullied because of their looks.
30% of victims have turned to self-harming behaviors because of bullying, which has increased by 6% since 2013.

5 Signs your child might be a cyberbullying victim

You can’t keep track of everything your child is doing and seeing online, which is why online bullying can go unnoticed until it’s too late.

Below are five of the most common signs that your child is being bullied online.

1. Reluctance to go to school. It’s one thing to be bullied online but when your child has to go to school and face their peers when bullies have been spreading rumours about them, they’ll do everything they can not to go. If your child is being bullied online, you might notice that they try and stay home more often than usual by coming up with different excuses such as feeling ill.
2. Increased anxiety. Almost every child has dealt with self-esteem issues at one point or another and bullying tends to personify this issue. Your child’s anxiety levels will be a lot higher if they’re experiencing cyberbullying.
3. Social withdrawal. When your child is being bullied online, they’ll stop seeing friends and won’t spend as much time online or on their phones anymore. In fact, they might tense up every time they receive a notification or message.
4. Mood swings. If your child is experiencing increased levels of anxiety, they probably won’t be getting much sleep and this could lead to mood swings. Have a conversation with your child about their friends and life if you notice drastic, ongoing mood swings.
5. Decline in academic performance. When a child is more focused on being teased and bullied, they won’t be able to focus on much else. If your child’s marks have dropped and they’re just not as focused on their school work anymore, it might be time to look at how they’re spending their time online and if they’re potentially being bullied.

Safer Schools is dedicated to helping parents understand more about the online world and how they can keep their children safe. Visit www.saferschools.co.za for more information.